Dispensing device for air-sealed cans



July 15, 1930'. F. LEATHER DISPENSING DEVICE FOR AIR SEALED CANS Original Filed May 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 5, 1930. F. LEATHER 1,770,576

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR AIR SEALED CANS Original Filed May 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Shget 2 5 l-T n (I 52 gwnloz EQ W l atente July 15, 1930 PAE FHQE nrsrnusme iinvrcn mania-SEALED cans Application filedMay 29, 1928, Serial No. 281,502. Renewed December 7, 1929.

My invention relates to containers of the type designed for the dispensing of small quantities of a material which it may be desirable to protect from free exposure to the atmosphere. As an example of such material reference may be had to ground cofiee, which is often put into so-called vacuum packed containers to prevent wastage of the aroma or loss of any other advantages attained by such style of packing.

My invention consists in the provision of containers intended for holding such ma,-

terials with cooperating, complemental, and separable parts, whereby the materials may be withdrawn'in small quantities without losingkthe advantages obtained. by the vacuum pac I In one phase of use of my invention the cooperating means includes a measuring container, whereby the amount withdrawn may be determined. The means employed also usually include a cut oil valve operable through the action of the measuring container, so that the valve must be closed ,to enable attachment or removal of the measuring container, thereby insuring that there shall never be free communication from the interior of the storage container to the outer air. Preferably also, the measuring container is efli'ectlvely sealed upon or against the storage container throughout the operation of removal of a portion of the contents, so that when the seal of the valve is broken to remove contents air between the storage container and the outside.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention as embodied in typical constructions chosen only as illustrations, and which may with advantage be employed. These will be hereinafter specifically described, while the scope of the patentable novelty will be indicated by the claims terminating the specification.

Figure 1 shows in perspective a storage container and its complemental measuring container, the two being separated but in the relative position assumed at the time of connection. Figure 2 is a top or end view of the conexcept that the parts are in inverted position the other seal is acting to prevent transfer of struction shown in Figure 1, the measuring container being in cross section and the valve being turned into discharging position. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the constructions shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the valve in open or discharging position.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the measuringcontainer and the head of the storage container, illustrating a modified construction, the valve being in closed position.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the constructions shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical section like Figure 4,

05 and the valve opened.

Figure 7 is a further modified construction, shownin section.

Figure 8 is a section illustrating the valve construction of Figure 7, the plane of section being at right angles to that of Figure 7.

. Figure 9 is a section showing a construction analogous to that of Figures 7 and 8.

Figures 10 and 11 are sections showing two closely related modifications.

In the following description of the con-' structions illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the device will-be referred to as a container for dispensing cofiee, this being done merely asa convenience and without any intention of limiting the device to use with coflee. I am well aware that it may be used to advantage with other materials and I desire to claim it when used with any materials and as broadly as a reasonable interpretation of the claims will permit.

The form of construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 will first be described. In these and other figures, 1 represents the storage container and 2 the dispensing or measuring '90 container which is complemental thereto. The latter may be provided with scale or measuring markings, as 20, so that removal, of exact and varying quantities of the mat-erials may be determined.

One head of the storage-container is provided with means for the application thereto of the measuring container'and with a discharge opening and a valve normally closing said opening. The construction of this head,

tion cap or into a to its edge,.this havin except as to the parts which are cooperative with the dis nsing container and the valve, may be anyt ing desired and found suitable. As illustrated in Figure .3, the head is of 5 the type having a friction cap 3, this carrym an ordinary friction cap, which may bereplaced with my specia ype of cap when the contents of the can are to be drawn upon. Of course, when so desired, my special constructions may be incorporated in the fricrmanently secured head as applied at the actory.

Whatever'type of head may be employed, the construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, contemplates that it shall have an annular go depressed ring or channel 30, for the reception of the edge or brim of the dispensing or measurin container 2. Its central portion 32 has a ho e or holes 33, through which to discharge the contents of the can 1, and a 5 valve disk 4 is centrally journaled thereon by a pin 40, and this has holes 41 ada ted to be registered with holes 33 in the hea mem-' her 3.

The dis nsin container 2 has a brim or i so edge whic is a apted to enter channel 30.

The brim of the dispensing container and the walls of the channel are provided with means wherebv the container 2 may be entered in channel 30, only when the valve disk 4 is so positioned as to close the o enings 41. This is shown as secured by provi ing a rejecting flange or flanges having notches therein for either the head secured members or the dispensing container and providing the other with projecting lugs adapted to enter said notches and then, by turning, pass the lugs under or over one of the flanges, thereby securing the dispensing container against the face of the head and by engagement of the notch and lug, of which one is vcarried by the valve disk, turn the valve until its part or parts are in register with the complemental I parts of the head member.

As illustrated in'Figures 1, 2 and 3, the dispensing container 2 has a ring 21 secured both an internal and an external flange, each of which flanges are provided withdia-metrically opposite notches as 22, 23, which notches will pass lu s 31 and 42 carried respectively by the hea member and the valve disk 4. When these lugs are positioned to conform to the positioning of the notches '22 and 23 in the flanges 24 and 25, the dispensing container may be applied to or removed from the storagecontainer. If when so applied it is turned, thelugs 31 will engage the outer surface of flange 24, thereby preventing removal of container 2 and by engagement of lugs 42 on the valve 05 disk 4 will turn said disk until the holes 41 therein register with holes 33 in the head member.

When this position is reached, inverting the containers into the position of Figure 3, will cause the coffee to pour into the dispensing container 2 and when the desired amount is therein, the valve may be closed by turning the dispensing container, the latter being removable when the lugs and notches have been brought into registry.

I prefer to provide a sealing member in the face of the ring 21 on the dispensing container, thereby obtaining and retaining an airtight joint between the dispensing container and the head 3 when the two are secured together. This may be secured by placing an elastic ring 26 in the bead of rin 21.

1% the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5, a'valve 43 seats upon the edge of a circular flange 34 which flange surrounds openings in the head 3.' A central stem 44 fixed to the valve is threaded into a nut 36 carried by a spider or arms which may be formed from or secured to thehead when punching out the discharge holes 37. Lugs,45 on the valve engage the side faces of ribs 27 carried by the dispensing cup-2, whereby the valve may be turned by the cup until raised by the action ofzthe screw threads 44 off of its seat. Inverting the containers, as to the position of Figure 6, will permit the cofl'ee to flow out.

' In the modification shown in Figures 7 and 8, the head v3 of the can is provided with a turret shaped extension 37 provided at one side with a discharge hole 38. Mounted upon this is a cup or cap 5, fixed thereon by a pin located at its central axis, and provided with a neck 51 adapted to be placed in registry with the hole 38. A dispensing container 2'.has a neck 28 adapted to engage the neck 51 so as to make a tight joint therewith. By using this as a handle the cap 5 may be turned so as to bring the hole 38 and the neck 51 into registry and thus discharge the contents of the can 1.

The construction shown in Figure 9 is like that of Figures 7 and 8, except that the discharge opening is in the end or upper face of the raised turret 37 and of the cap 5 and the dispensing container is applied with its axis parallel with the axis of the can.

The constructions shown in Figures 10 and '11 are very similar to those of Figures 7 and 9, except that the mouth of-the container 2' is of a size to fit overt-he rotatable ca valve and the discharge is in Figure 10 t rough holes 39 which in Figure 10 are in the side walls of the turret and cap and in Figure 11 in the outer face walls. A packing sleeve 52 ma be used to insure an air tight joint.

ne of the objects sought by my invention is to secure, as nearly as is feasible, an air tight closure for the storage container, such condition to be maintained during the period of withdrawal of a portion of the contents.

By doing this a more perfect preservation of the aroma of the coffee and the freshness of other products may be obtained. The term air tight, as herein used, is not employed in its strictest technical sense, but is intended to include such a seal as will obstruct, but

possibly not entirely prevent, the passage of air past the seal. The air tight seal contemplated is only such a seal as may be practical of attainment and maintenance by the use of ordinary and feasible means.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a container for granular material having a recessed annular groove in its head and a valve disk pivoted concentric with said groove, said disk and head having discharge holes which-register at a-definite angular position of the disk, a cup having its top edge of a size to enter said annular groove, the outer face of its lip and the container head being provided with rotative holding engagement preventing disengagement except at a definite position, the inner face of the cup brim and the disk being provided with rotative engaging parts. 2. The combination with a container for granular material, of a dispensing attachment comprising a disk and base plate held in rotative facial contact and each provided with holes which will register When placed in proper angular relation, a dispensing cup. said base plate and disk providing an annular channel between them adapted to receive the rim of ,the measuring cup between them, said base plate, disk and the rim of the cup having key-like -sections ofls'et from their normal circles to permit insertion of the rim of the cup into said annular channel when the base and disk are in a particular relative angular position and to secure turning of the disk by the turning of the cup tothereby bring into registry ythe holes in the base and disk and to insure holding of the cup in place until it is turned to a position which will destroy such registration. I

Signed at Seattle, King County, State of Washington, this 25th day of May, 1928.

FITZHERBERT LEATHER. 

